6 Steps To A Stress-Free Home

Your living space should serve as a relaxing retreat from the stress of everyday life. Indeed, a growing body of research called "sensory science" supports the notion of home as a sanctuary. Experts have found that the environment you create has a big impact on your outlook and sense of well-being. "Everything from the pictures on the wall to the slipcover on your couch can have a positive influence on your mood and attitude," says environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, PhD, president of the design firm PlaceCoach in Los Angeles. Make these small changes for at-home stress management and nourish your senses and turn your home into a healing haven.

TOUCH

Cozy Fabrics
Textile researchers have found that holding certain types of cloth can evoke powerful emotions. When female students evaluated 10 different fabrics in one British study, both corduroy and fleece elicited feelings of contentment.

Try: Buying a corduroy slipcover for your couch, or draping a fleece throw over the back of a sofa or chair. If you're in the market for new furniture, look for stain repellent and water-resistant on the label. Newer fabrics with this designation likely have a microscopic "peach fuzz" that makes them feel plush even as it wards off stains, says Maureen S. MacGillivray, PhD, a professor of apparel and textiles at Central Michigan University.

SEE

Clean Surfaces
Clutter isn't just unpleasant to look at, it can also be distressing—especially when you don't have control over it. In one study at Washington State University, volunteers looked at photographs of offices in various states of disarray. The bigger the mess, the more anxious people felt, even though their own offices were just as disorganized.

Try: Aiming your sights on the kitchen counter—a prime dumping spot. Place a basket for mail next to your phone; banish hats, gloves, and sunglasses to a bin underneath the counter so it's out of sight but still within reach. And every day, spend a little time tidying up. Because cleaning is a physical activity, it further provides another at-home stress management mood lift: Last year, researchers found that people who did 20 minutes of housework suffered from less anxiety and depression.

BREATHE

Floral and Food Scents
In a Rutgers University study, women who received bouquets reported positive feelings a few days later. Researchers speculate that flowers contain certain compounds that improve well-being.

Try: Scattering jasmine and hyacinth around the house—these blossoms boosted mood and lowered anxiety levels in studies. Cinnamon and peppermint are two other aromas proven to perk you up. To naturally scent your home, use an essential-oil diffuser or place cinnamon sticks in table centerpieces.

HEAR

Pleasant Sounds
Cornell University researchers found that even low-level noise--like the sound of someone typing—may ramp up levels of the stress hormone epinephrine by 30%, compared with quieter situations.

Try: Adding more pleasing sounds to your environment with your favorite CDs or a set of wind chimes. It may seem like you're just turning up the volume, but there's a difference between noise (what you consider annoying) and sound (which is pleasing to your ear), says John House, MD, president of the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles.

SEE

Try: Opening your shades if you have a garden view; if not, forest and beach pictures have a similar effect. Or scatter potted plants throughout your home. "Pick plants with rounded leaves—research suggests gentle, organic shapes may be the most soothing," says Augustin.

FEEL

Ample Space
Some experts suggest that humans are hardwired to seek out spaciousness, harking back to our ancestors' need to flee predators. Studies show that mice in cramped conditions exhibit more signs of stress than ones with room to roam.

Try: Taking doors off closed bookcases and filling shelves only halfway, says Arthur Stamps, PhD, president of the Institute of Environmental Quality, a nonprofit research group in San Francisco. Placing a big mirror on one wall is another time-honored trick for making a room seem larger, as is a coat of paint in a cool shade like pale blue, green, or icy white. To mimic airy, outdoor open space, paint ceilings a lighter color than the walls, and position lamps so they throw light on the ceiling.

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